Puritan 2
Introduction
In the close of the foregoing book we read how God magnified Solomon and Israel obeyed him; God and Israel concurred to honour him. Now here we have an account, I. How he honoured God by sacrifice (Ch2 1:1-6) and by prayer (Ch2 1:7-12). II. How he honoured Israel by increasing their strength, wealth, and trade (Ch2 1:13-17).
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Introduction
This chapter relates, how that Solomon being confirmed in his kingdom, went to Gibeon to sacrifice Ch2 1:1, that the Lord appeared there to him, and what passed between them, Ch2 1:7 and that when he returned from thence to Jerusalem, he increased in splendour, wealth, and riches, Ch2 1:13.
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Modern 4
Introduction
Solomon, and the chiefs of the congregation, go to Gibeon, where was the tabernacle of the Lord, and the brazen altar; and there he offers a thousand sacrifices, Ch2 1:1-6. The Lord appears to him in a dream, and gives him permission to ask any gift, Ch2 1:7. He asks wisdom, Ch2 1:8-10, which is granted; and riches, wealth, and honor besides, Ch2 1:11, Ch2 1:12. His kingdom is established, Ch2 1:13. His chariots, horsemen, and horses, Ch2 1:14. His abundant riches, Ch2 1:15. He brings horses, linen yarn, and chariots, at a fixed price, out of Egypt, Ch2 1:16, Ch2 1:17.
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A horse for a hundred and fifty - Suppose we take the shekel at the utmost value at which it has been rated, three shillings; then the price of a horse was about twenty-two pounds ten shillings.
On Solomon's multiplying horses, Bishop Warburton has made some judicious remarks: -
"Moses had expressly prohibited the multiplying of horses, Deu 17:16, by which the future king was forbidden to establish a body of cavalry, because this could not be effected without sending into Egypt, with which people God had forbidden any communication, as this would be dangerous to religion. When Solomon had violated this law, and multiplied horses to excess, Kg1 4:26, it was soon attended with those fatal consequences that the law foretold: for this wisest of kings having likewise, in violation of another law, married Pharaoh's daughter, (the early fruits of this commerce), and then, by a repetition of the same crime, but a transgression of another law, having espoused more strange women, Kg1 11:1; they first, in defiance of a fourth law, persuaded him to build them idol temples for their use, and afterwards, against a fifth law, brought him to erect other temples for his own. Now the original of all this mischief was the forbidden traffic with Egypt for horses; for thither were the agents of Solomon sent to mount his cavalry. Nay, this great king even turned factor for the neighboring monarchs, Ch2 1:17, and this opprobrious commerce was kept up by his successors and attended with the same pernicious consequences. Isaiah denounces the mischiefs of this traffic; and foretells that one of the good effects of leaving it would be the forsaking of their idolatries, Isa 31:1, Isa 31:4, Isa 31:6, Isa 31:7." - See Divine Legation, vol. iii., p. 289 and Dr. Dodd's Notes.
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Introduction
SOLEMN OFFERING OF SOLOMON AT GIBEON. (Ch2 1:1-6)
Then Solomon spake unto all Israel--The heads, or leading officers, who are afterwards specified, were summoned to attend their sovereign in a solemn religious procession. The date of this occurrence was the second year of Solomon's reign, and the high place at Gibeon was chosen for the performance of the sacred rites, because the tabernacle and all the ancient furniture connected with the national worship were deposited there. Zadok was the officiating high priest (Ch1 16:39). It is true that the ark had been removed and placed in a new tent which David had made for it at Jerusalem [Ch2 1:4]. But the brazen altar, "before the tabernacle of the Lord," on which the burnt offerings were appointed by the law to be made, was at Gibeon. And although David had been led by extraordinary events and tokens of the divine presence to sacrifice on the threshing-floor of Araunah, Solomon considered it his duty to present his offerings on the legally appointed spot "before the tabernacle," and on the time-honored altar prepared by the skill of Bezaleel in the wilderness (Exo 38:1).
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brought . . . for all the kings of the Hittites--A branch of this powerful tribe, when expelled from Palestine, had settled north of Lebanon, where they acquired large possessions contiguous to the Syrians.
Next: 2 Chronicles Chapter 2
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